The debut album, chosen by The Times as one of its 'Records of the Year'.

AKD 018

Clark Tracey was born in London, England in 1961. He grew up in a jazz environment as the son of Stan Tracey, the UK's leading jazz pianist, and from an early age took to the piano and vibraphones. At 13 he started playing the drums and gigged until he turned professional in 1978 by joining his father's various ensembles. In that context he has toured and recorded extensively.

In 1981 he formed the first of his own groups with Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Andrew Cleyndert. Later groups included Guy Barker, Jamie Talbot, Nigel Hitchcock, Dave O'Higgins, Mark Nightingale, Mornington Lockett, Julian Arguelles, Gerard Presencer, Alec Dankworth and Steve Melling. He currently runs a quintet with luminaries from the new generation (Mark Armstrong, Simon Allen, Zoe Rahman & Peter Billington) and a trio with Gareth Williams and Arnie Somogyi.

As a composer he has received commissions for his quintet, an octet shared with pianist Dave Newton, Continental Drift (an 11 piece band co-composed with Stan Tracey commissioned by The Arts Council), and arrangements for the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Appleby Festival big band. He has also written string quartet arrangements for his own group, Claire Martin, Tina May and the folk group Filska.

As a freelance drummer Clark has had 25 years' experience playing alongside some of the most important artists in jazz at home and abroad (see list below), appearing on over 80 albums and touring in around 50 countries. He has been awarded Best Drums title three times in the British Jazz Awards and received endorsements from Zildjian Cymbals in 1998 and Vic Firth Sticks and Remo Drumheads in 1999.

Clark also teaches privately and at school and has given masterclasses at Leeds College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Musicians' Institute, Bracknell jazz weekends and festivals as well as overseas workshops.

He has appeared on tv and radio all over the world, but key moments include "Omnibus" (BBC) with his quintet, "Mercury Music Awards" (BBC) with Sting, "Father & Son" (ITV) with own group and Stan Tracey, "The Paradise Club" (ITV), "Ellington's" (ITV), "Call Me Mister" (ITV), "Blue Note's 50th Anniversary Concert" with Tommy Smith at the Montreux Jazz Festival, plus numerous radio broadcasts with his own groups on Radios 2 & 3. In 1999 Clark got a feature in the motion picture "The Talented Mr. Ripley" starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law (directed by Anthony Minghella) and this year was involved in the soundtrack of motion picture "Alfie" starring Jude Law.

AudioVideo Shopper'Martin [has a] wonderful ability to interpret a song...the young diva succeeds best when she reaches furthest, and her wild rendition of Thomas Dolby's "The Key To Your Ferrari" provies just how versatile and entertaining jazz vocals can be.'more >>

Jazz Educators Journal'This is a CD I can hardly keep out of my CD player. A tenacious jazz sound, jazz feel, jazz phrasing ... yeah, an insistently head-spinning jazz singer is what Claire Martin is! Her hip, intoxicating voice and natural manner in shaping songs-unfolding tales and inherent nuances lying in wait to be enlivened-simply keeps her singing crisply fresh and savory.'more >>

Sunday World-Herald'Claire Martin, a British vocalist with a sultry sound...has loads of promise.'more >>

Chattanooga Free Press'She masters classic ballads as well as uptempo arrangements with the flair of a veteran.'more >>

Jazziz'...cool jazz in the best sense: intimate, understated and characterized by a relaxed yet confident sense of swing.'more >>

Northern Echo'Linn have also issued the first album by another singer, Claire Martin The Waiting Game. Once again the musical support is outstanding, led this time by pianist Jonathan Gee or guitarist Jim Mullen. The tunes include a rare and beautiful Rodgers and Hart song, This Funny World.'

In Vox'...sensitive, emphatic, intimate. A truly flexible voice, lithely swaying the lyrics in the midst of captivating melodies.'